Production of pelargonic aldehyde



Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALPI-ION S O. J'AEGER, OF MOUNT LEBANON, AND LLOYD DANIELS, OF GRAFTON, PENN SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE SELDEN COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PRODUCTION OF PELARGONIC ALDEHYDE N Drawing. Application filed May 1, 1929. Serial No. 359,723.

This invention relates to the production of subjecting a salt of sebacic acid to a tempelargonic aldehyde from salts of sebacic perature between 300-450 C. in the presence acid. of an atmosphere containing hydrogen and According to the present invention pelsteam. I argonic aldehyde is prepared by splittingofi Signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this a carboXyl group from a salt of sebacic acid th day of April, 1929. 1 in an atmosphere of hydrogen with or with- ALPHONS O. JAEGER. out steam. One carboxyl group is split oil LLOYD C. DANIELS. and the remaining carboxyl groups is re- I duced to the aldehyde.

Various salts may be used, but the best results are obtained by heating iron,'zinc, copper or nickel sebacates to a temperature between 300-450 C. These metals are reduc tion catalysts and facilitate the reduction. Pelargonic acid together with pelargonic aldehyde may be obtained by heating the alkali or alkaline earth metal salts of sebacic acid in a reducing atmosphere.

The invention will be described in more detail in connection with the following specific example which illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

Example Zinc sebacate is passed slowly through a 3 inch reaction tube maintained at about 316 C. in the presence of an atmosphere of hydrogen, the passage taking from one-half hour to an hour. Pelargonic aldehyde distills off admixed with some other impurities and part of the sebacic acid undergoes decomposition there being some formation of carbonaceous material. If steam is added to the hydrogen atmosphere the yields are im- 

